THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH 107
Secondly, new words are introduced only after
the boys have had thorough practice in the use of
words already learnt by them. Accordingly,
words studied by them in prose are repeated in
the poems following the prose lessons. The
pupils are made to memorise from prose and
poetry and are also given practice in singing.
Sometimes Rapid Readers also form part of the
reading material.
- Each lesson in the Reader prescribed for
detailed study is read only after the pupils have
'become familiar with its language and subject-
matter by means of oral exercises. Isolated
words are never used. New words are written
on the blackboard as they occur in the text-book,
but the pupils are taught the meanings of these
words only as they stand in sentences. The
lessons in translation are closely correlated with
the text-book. In grammar, too, the pupils are
taught the different parts of speech as they
occur in their Reader. In the lessons on
conversation they get plenty of practice in con-
jugating the verbs with which they have become
acquainted.
Written work in the lower classes consists of
dictation, using in sentences words learnt in the
text-books, supplying suitable words in sentences
with blank spaces, translation into English of
simple German sentences bearing on the vocabu-
lary and grammar which the boys have already
learnt and writing short stories told by the teacher
in the class.